tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207401087933104042018-08-28T17:31:26.949+10:00Jan-Klaas KollhofJan Klaas Kollhofnoreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-83375984993238494582009-01-12T20:20:00.001+11:002014-01-26T10:51:41.569+11:00Skydiving in Eloy, Arizona<br />After a great snowboarding trip I only worked a few days and went off on a trip again on the 18th of Dec.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvSlR3J7Ms4/Uqw3Sd9DXvI/AAAAAAAAAoc/elwKWeBK38I/s1600/p1000011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvSlR3J7Ms4/Uqw3Sd9DXvI/AAAAAAAAAoc/elwKWeBK38I/s400/p1000011.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />I had a direct flight to Phoenix, AZ and after waiting for quite some time for my taxi to the dropzone in Eloy, I finally arrived there at around 21:00h.<br />The only thing left open was the Bent Prop, the DZ's bar, and when I walked in, Binxy, a friend from Weston, was the first one to great me. We had a pint and another and then a few more and before I knew it I was climbing the outside wall of the pub?! It was a great way to start the holiday.<br /><br />The jetleg was stronger than the hangover and I woke up around 8ish the next morning. I checked in with manifest and there was my shiny new rig!<br />After sorting out everything the jumping began. I did a solo jump to get used to my new canopy, a Saber2 170 in a Vector 3 and a few 2,3 and 4 ways. Then I decided to try to sit-fly. So I talked to Matt Hill, the load organizer of the day and my tunnel coach. He took his time to fully brief me as I have never tried to sit-fly before. I went to the shop, got me a free-fly suit and then we went up. To my surprise I sat almost all the way down. I continued to do more sits to practice before my tunnel coaching started.<br />The next day, Doug, another friend from Weston, his Dad and Anna, Binxy's girlfreind arrived and we did a few jumps together.<br />For the next few days were all jumping and tunnel, drinking at the brent prop, sleeping in the bunkhouse, getting up early and repeat!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRm4JtDQQfQ/Uqw3aY1lsDI/AAAAAAAAApM/gDC0p0svmUQ/s1600/p1000246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRm4JtDQQfQ/Uqw3aY1lsDI/AAAAAAAAApM/gDC0p0svmUQ/s400/p1000246.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />I started the tunnel on my 3rd day and had only booked an hou, which at first seemed plenty. I soon discovered that I wanted more and then more again, so I ended up with 3h of coached time in the tunnel. It was fantastic and a big thanks goes out to Matt for his patience with me and teaching me so much cool stuff. We started with some back-flying and learned to walk in the tunnel.<br />Then I went on to learn some transitions from front to back, back to front and back to sit on the net. Finally I was ready to try to fly my first sit.<br />From there on it practicing more transitions, taking docks, moving around in the tunnel in all directions... I usually had 15-30 min of tunnel time in a day, so there was enough time to get at least 5 jumps in as well. It was quite hard work but it was great fun. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/P-wvNqnV8-g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><br /><br />On the 24th I flew over to California to see my host family from when I was an exchange student way back in 1994. I hadn't seen them for about 4 years now and it was great to catch up with everyone. Unfortunately I only stayed a couple days and went back to Eloy on the 26th for more jumping and tunnel.<br /><br />Now the Christmas Boogie had started, jump tickets were cheaper and the evenings were filled with activities, like a big bond fire night, a talent show with people singing, playing guitar, belly dancing, ... I even learned how to breathe fire and by the end of the night we were all dancing like crazy. This is the reason why we got an insurance for extreme sports, its not the jumping that is dangerous!<br /><br />The days, again, were filled with lots of jumping, I mostly did sit flying, because I really wanted to get good at it. But I did a few flat jumps with the other guys from Weston. Besides jumping out of the usual planes, the Skyvan and the Otter. I also had a chance to jump out of a Porter, a DC-3<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XcyITahX8eE/Uqw3Tsiv5LI/AAAAAAAAAok/uVyoGyHJEXA/s1600/p1000089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XcyITahX8eE/Uqw3Tsiv5LI/AAAAAAAAAok/uVyoGyHJEXA/s400/p1000089.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />and an old Beech!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSlMTgrf69c/Uqw3RoMwfII/AAAAAAAAAoU/f82tWhoAIqY/s1600/p1000162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSlMTgrf69c/Uqw3RoMwfII/AAAAAAAAAoU/f82tWhoAIqY/s400/p1000162.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BSpq9tXtA60/Uqw3VPMZhJI/AAAAAAAAAow/-VPKdxT14Sg/s1600/p1000171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BSpq9tXtA60/Uqw3VPMZhJI/AAAAAAAAAow/-VPKdxT14Sg/s400/p1000171.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />One afternoon we booked ourself a balloon jump. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MENAiINFvdE/Uqw3VP9ZuJI/AAAAAAAAAos/7o35kOet4X4/s1600/p1000179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MENAiINFvdE/Uqw3VP9ZuJI/AAAAAAAAAos/7o35kOet4X4/s400/p1000179.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><br />I had never flown in a balloon before and the feeling of floating above the ground silently is fantastic. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S-ctvfgJTFA/Uqw3WxJwnXI/AAAAAAAAAo8/nrtRDVwW10o/s1600/p1000207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S-ctvfgJTFA/Uqw3WxJwnXI/AAAAAAAAAo8/nrtRDVwW10o/s400/p1000207.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />We were at about 5000 feet and you watch the others fall straight down and you think: "Dude! Time to pull! Uhm, pull? Ok, honestly, I think its time to pull!" And then I stept onto the side of the basket with my back to the outside and just let myself fall backwards. After a few backloops I checked my altitude and saw that I still had quite a bit of time left, more than I expectde, so I did some few turns, watched the balloon and eventually pulled... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyAknPElFl8/Uqw3YeP4rRI/AAAAAAAAApE/-eq1M1SZSJ4/s1600/p1000219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UyAknPElFl8/Uqw3YeP4rRI/AAAAAAAAApE/-eq1M1SZSJ4/s400/p1000219.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />... and landed somewhere in the desert where some of the other were already waiting. What a jump!!!<br /><br />Soon the boogie was over and it was time to go back home.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6m78Pq9176U/Uqw3fmVQeVI/AAAAAAAAApU/2HzcQmWn5v4/s1600/p1000236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6m78Pq9176U/Uqw3fmVQeVI/AAAAAAAAApU/2HzcQmWn5v4/s400/p1000236.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />My goal for the year was to reach 100 jumps, I am now 3 short of 200,<br />my sit flight is not bad and I am sure it won't be long before I get back to Eloy. Besides being broke, I am not sure what the plan for this year is gonna be, hopefully take part in the nationals with a free-fly team, learn to fly head down and maybe get up to 400 jumps !?<br />Lets just see. One thing is for sure, I am a tiny bit addicted!Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Eloy, AZ, USA32.806033299430908 -111.5816116333007832.792686799430911 -111.60178163330077 32.819379799430905 -111.56144163330079tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-30427090316432742842008-12-15T18:21:00.001+11:002013-12-14T21:43:58.335+11:00Snowboarding with Urte in Stubaital<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XxgEOKhO_8/Uqw1bM_KlOI/AAAAAAAAAnY/sdfOQsd5Ybg/s1600/dsc_0222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XxgEOKhO_8/Uqw1bM_KlOI/AAAAAAAAAnY/sdfOQsd5Ybg/s400/dsc_0222.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My sister, Urte, and I decided to go snowboarding in Austria for my birthday.<br />So, I flew over to Hamburg on the 5th where, to my surprise, my parents picked me up at the airport. We spent a great evening at my sisters, having a little pre-christmas celebration before Urte and I took off for a long drive to the Austrian Alps. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CyNfvosNGm8/Uqw1epe98cI/AAAAAAAAAno/agtlkr9j8MU/s1600/dsc_0246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CyNfvosNGm8/Uqw1epe98cI/AAAAAAAAAno/agtlkr9j8MU/s400/dsc_0246.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My sister drove for the first half and I did the last part.<br />We arrived in [http://www.stubaier-gletscher.com Stubaitahl] around 9-10ish, found ourselves a little apartment in Gasteig and went snowboarding.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRiid--jV3k/Uqw1bkZNLVI/AAAAAAAAAnc/5r0CBHUBWR4/s1600/dsc_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRiid--jV3k/Uqw1bkZNLVI/AAAAAAAAAnc/5r0CBHUBWR4/s400/dsc_0218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We had fantastic weather for the first few days and there were hardly any people on the slopes. Then it started snowing quite a bit and the winds picked up too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAB4pnkMk5E/Uqw1e-MPDxI/AAAAAAAAAns/NGHYtUN1Zt0/s1600/dsc_0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAB4pnkMk5E/Uqw1e-MPDxI/AAAAAAAAAns/NGHYtUN1Zt0/s400/dsc_0235.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On my birthday it was so windy that they closed the lifts and we decided to go sled riding instead. But only after a wonderful cake breakfast my sister had prepared.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_KIwtx5DEKI/Uqw1hO_Xb_I/AAAAAAAAAoA/50uUhv8S9Jg/s1600/dsc_0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_KIwtx5DEKI/Uqw1hO_Xb_I/AAAAAAAAAoA/50uUhv8S9Jg/s400/dsc_0269.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I got a great Japanese Shun vegetable knife, which is made from a very impressive folded steel. My mom made me a beautiful coffee cup which my dad made a sugar holder for, so I can enjoy some Feuerzangenbowle (by myself!). There were yummy sweets, the obligatory boxer shorts and not to forget a Spanish girlfriend! She was quite puzzling and completely head and legless.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LaMmB8hX0LQ/Uqw1hS0YWnI/AAAAAAAAAoE/ijKe0Rr8nrg/s1600/dsc_0283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LaMmB8hX0LQ/Uqw1hS0YWnI/AAAAAAAAAoE/ijKe0Rr8nrg/s400/dsc_0283.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />So, after the breakfast we drove into the mountains, parked at a tiny little parking spot by the side of the rode and walked up the mountain for about an hour and arrived at a beautiful little hut called Brandstattalm. There we rented a couple sleds and went down an about 4km long ride. It was great fun so we decided we go up again. We stopped for a little picnic and my sister pulled out a couple nifty glasses and some sparkling wine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpDgOqkxZyE/Uqw1Zr6fTTI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/-6S4bPAbDLQ/s1600/IMAGE_024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpDgOqkxZyE/Uqw1Zr6fTTI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/-6S4bPAbDLQ/s400/IMAGE_024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Once we got to the Hut we decided to stop for a drink and some Kaiserschmarrn.<br />It was homemade and delicious. Then we went down again, this time racing each other. Once at the bottom we went up parts of the last bit again a couple times and of course racing each other turned into a little pile up with both of us getting a bit bruised :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7zCMe8qTi8/Uqw1fSNMiTI/AAAAAAAAAn4/jrnrP3N87RU/s1600/dsc_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7zCMe8qTi8/Uqw1fSNMiTI/AAAAAAAAAn4/jrnrP3N87RU/s400/dsc_0243.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />For the rest of our time there it was snowing and snowing and snowing.<br />We always had fresh soft snow under our boards and even though the visibility was not that great it was a lot of fun.<br />On the way back to Hamburg, we stopped in Frankfurt to see my good friend Alexandra Winkler. Unfortunately we had way to little time to properly catch up.<br /><br />Urte and I had to get up quite early on Monday so that I could catch my flight back to London. Ontop of that the BA staff was giving me a very hard time about checking in my snowboard. It ended with me having to put all my clothes that I stuffed into the snowboard bag into a separate box and check it in along with my gear, no extra cost but an extra box to check in ?!?! At first they did not even want to let me check in my board at all. Someone explain that logic!Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Neustift im Stubaital, Austria47.1090461 11.30524590000004546.9359536 10.982522400000045 47.2821386 11.627969400000046tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-72702242707873226692008-11-01T22:00:00.001+11:002013-12-22T21:37:42.922+11:00FS Coaching at Bodyflight, Bedford<br />Jonathan Ashe organised some FS coaching.<br />So, on the 25th of October, after a few jumps, we started with dirtdiving some formations which we would later try to repeat in the tunnel. <br />Then we drove to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bodyflight.co.uk/">Bodyflight</a>, a wind tunnel in Bedford. After signing up and some more dirtdivng the fun began.<br /><br />We started with a couple 1-on-1 sessions, practicing the basics and chacing each other in the tunnel. Then we went on to some 2-on-2 sessions, mainly practicing turns and docks and forward/backward and side sliding. We then went on to do some 4-way formations, 2 students and 2 coaches. We finished the evening with doing some 4-way formations with just students and the coach just watching.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2gxUl8lEIfw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><br /><br />It was a fantastic experience and a big thanks goes out to everyone involved in organizing it.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-50778858968417481522008-10-10T18:36:00.001+11:002013-12-29T16:57:10.299+11:00A whole lotta skydiving<br />I've been pretty much jumping every available weekend, weather permitting.<br />It's been fantastic and I have learned a lot.<br />Most of my jumps were 2-ways with Debbie Sanderson. We had a good mix of <br />plain flat flying, improving our skills, and a bit of mucking about. <br />We did start jumping with others, too, and did some 3-ways and 4-ways.<br />And I even did a 11-way tracking dive at the end of one evening with the sun setting at the horizon.<br /><br />The following video has a few jumps: First is Andy Moss and I. We ended up doing our spin a bit early, but it was good fun! I am the one in black with black gloves and blue container with pink writing on it. The next one was a 4-Way wit Debbie, Tracy and Andy. Our exit was a total disaster and I think very well captured ;). Jump 93 was a 3-Way with Debbie and Andy. We did a bet with Richard Head of the Phobia team that we could do the formation and it all went pretty much as planned and we won a beer !!!<br />Being confident we went on to do another 3-Way. We were all supposed to be linked together in a compressed accordion (the 2 outside ones are facing torwards the feet of the inside one). Then one of the outside people will go up and over the other 2 with a 180 turn and then dock again, then the next person... As you can see, we did not even get to the compressed accordion.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FQ9WjuBYERs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><br /><br />Last weekend was the scrambles. It is a little competition where they make 4 pots with each one having the names of people from different ability levels.<br />Then teams are drawn with one skydiver from each pot.<br />The teams then get a set of 4 formations for each round they have to dive.<br />There are no practice dives, only dirt diving on the ground using creepers in the hanger. The first 35 seconds, once the team is out of the door, count. The team has to get as many points by repeatedly building the formations in the order given. <br /><br />Our team consisted of Martin ???, Richard Head and Gier ???.<br />We got 12 points and ranked pretty much top of the list with one other team!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nCFbOLSRziE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><br /><br />Unfortunately the weather turned bad and the scrambles had to be called off.<br />Instead of jumping we ended up doing indoor competitions on the creepers, same rules same teams except now you had to push yourself around instead of flying. <br /><br />In the evening was a party with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rafspa.com/index.php?q=gallery&amp;g2_itemId=7282&amp;g2_GALLERYSID=a801a73904d6001ce737217deda45196">Oktoberfest</a>&nbsp;theme.<br />I missed a bit of it because I wanted to be there for Cate's 30th birthday dinner. So I went to London, had a lovely dinner with Cate and friends and then went back to Weston.<br /><br />Unfortunately the next day was even worse than the Sat. It did not stop raining and it was very windy. So, the 2nd day of the scrambles was called off.<br /><br />This coming weekend looks a bit more promising, so I am hoping to get a few more jumps in before the season ends.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire, UK51.8783206960135 -1.220178804199349551.8734191960135 -1.2302638041993494 51.883222196013506 -1.2100938041993496tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-4562053726210594132008-09-24T13:29:00.001+10:002013-12-14T21:29:48.594+11:00Barge TripKate and I had planned to go on little 3-day barge trip for a while.<br />Unfortunately our breakup changed the plans a bit.<br />I did end up going with a few of my colleagues and friends.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sC2Tzk9OEYQ/UqwyPjft-TI/AAAAAAAAAms/VJSRNRDp_Ro/s1600/dsc_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sC2Tzk9OEYQ/UqwyPjft-TI/AAAAAAAAAms/VJSRNRDp_Ro/s400/dsc_0091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We got to <a href="http://www.leevalleyboats.co.uk/">Lee Valley Boats Center</a>&nbsp;early <br />Friday afternoon and checked out our boat, Emily. A 68ft long canal boat!!!<br />It would have fitted 10 people but we were only 6, Duncan, Roger, Jarkko, Tina, Kym and I. So, there was going to be plenty of space just in case we would not get along ;).<br /><br />Before leaving though, we had to quickly buy some food and booze!<br />This was when the first rain poured down on us... nothing like a british summer weekend!<br /><br />After a few driving lessons we took off north to the first lock and on to the next...<br />We had to do all the lock handling ourselves, which turned out to be quite some fun and by the end we had a good "team setup".<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmTpK2uAnmg/UqwyH2BfNvI/AAAAAAAAAmc/qpxttPtWHBw/s1600/dsc_0204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmTpK2uAnmg/UqwyH2BfNvI/AAAAAAAAAmc/qpxttPtWHBw/s400/dsc_0204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The weather started clearing up and it started getting darker.<br />We made it all the way to Ware, where we decided to have dinner at a little pub.<br />The food was great and the weather got worse, it started pouring down like crazy.<br />Back on the boat we ended up drinking more wine and beer and played some card games til late that night.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bYBtw-r8H0M/UqwyKKR9rrI/AAAAAAAAAmk/qjkgeITssUo/s1600/dsc_0075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bYBtw-r8H0M/UqwyKKR9rrI/AAAAAAAAAmk/qjkgeITssUo/s400/dsc_0075.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The next morning started out with a bit of sun and we made our way up to Hertford. We planned to visit a castle there, but it turned out to be a bit different than we expected. It wasn't really anything to visit.<br />But, we got some more shopping done (because we drank all the booze already)<br />and made our way back down the river.<br />That night we cooked ourselves and just ate, drank and talked till late.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PoPRzqmWWJI/UqwyT61zu1I/AAAAAAAAAm8/chrUorHB8qo/s1600/dsc_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PoPRzqmWWJI/UqwyT61zu1I/AAAAAAAAAm8/chrUorHB8qo/s400/dsc_0234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On Sunday we went up further north towards Harlow. <br />We had plenty of sunshine and the river was much narrower and also prettier.<br />Plenty of locks and nice scenery.<br /><br />It was a very peaceful ride on the boat, with no more than 5mph. But it sometimes can be too peaceful. So, we ended up doing silly things like<br />cartwheels on the roof, <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJfghWrXahI/UqwyTOteJ_I/AAAAAAAAAm0/jNXDGtBQgSU/s1600/dsc_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJfghWrXahI/UqwyTOteJ_I/AAAAAAAAAm0/jNXDGtBQgSU/s400/dsc_0278.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />or climbing up and down bridges while the boat passes underneath it ;)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23YqnvFJDis/UqwyUAzeq8I/AAAAAAAAAnA/-15OSTSN9jo/s1600/dsc_0292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23YqnvFJDis/UqwyUAzeq8I/AAAAAAAAAnA/-15OSTSN9jo/s400/dsc_0292.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We got back to Broxbourne oround 17:00h on Sunday. <br />It was a very relaxing weekend and everyone seemed to have enjoyed it.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Lee Valley White Water Centre, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire EN9 1AB, UK51.6880375 -0.01696990000004916551.6831155 -0.027054900000049165 51.6929595 -0.0068849000000491649tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-33374221043645072008-09-03T17:19:00.001+10:002013-12-29T16:57:51.800+11:00Two Eventful Months<br />I did more wakeboarding, almost twice a week since I got it.<br />Unfortunately the bindings broke due to a material fault, but I got <br />them replaced for some better ones.<br />I am learning a few tricks like jumping kickers with 180 turns, <br />doing spins, ... but it is all going quite slowly. <br />It is a lot of fun though and a good balance for my rather inactive job.<br /><br />End of July Kate and I went to Edinburgh for a long weekend to see a Tom Waits concert. <br />It was fantastic and one of the few live concerts I truly enjoyed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ufQmz6lSuSM/UrqSZ4UPErI/AAAAAAAAAps/jQKyberIWps/s1600/img_7814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ufQmz6lSuSM/UrqSZ4UPErI/AAAAAAAAAps/jQKyberIWps/s400/img_7814.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The rest of the weekends, weather permitting it, I went skydiving.<br />I have joined the&nbsp;<a href="http://skydiveweston.com/">Skydive Weston</a>&nbsp;club, a much <br />bigger drop zone than <a href="http://www.londonparachuteschool.com/">London Parachute School</a>.<br />In the last 2 months I did more jumps there than the entire year before. <br /><br />The dropzone is open from Fr. afternoon until Sun. night. Going back to<br />London on Sat. and return early Sun. morning seems pretty silly, so I bought a tent, <br />a mattress and a sleeping bag. It is not as comfortable as a VW mini bus, <br />which I really really want, but oh so much cheaper. Which means more money <br />left to spend on jump tickets.<br /><br />Besides doing quite a number of solo jumps, I started jumping 2-ways, <br />which are much more fun and I learned loads about flying in formation.<br /><br />Two weeks ago I passed all my tests for the B-license with my 50th jump :).<br />And last weekend I passed my Formation Skydiving 1 test, which means <br />I am now allowed to jump with others, or better: I am considered safe to jump with :).<br /><br />As you can see in the video below I still have lots to learn.<br />Honestly, I did the same jump before this one and it all went much smoother! <br />I just blame it on exam phobia! ;)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nW-BSHJ-pmQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I now have 64 jumps with a total of over 50min freefall. With having my B license and FS1<br />I need to set myself some new goals for this year.<br />So, I am aiming to get up to at least 100 jumps and have my own parachute rig before the end of the year.<br /><br />Unfortunately the last 2 months were not just all fun.<br />Cate and I broke up :( <br />It's been a great 3 years with her and she was the sweetest and most loving girlfriend I have ever been with.<br />But it just did not work out, we somehow just don't match.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-76508379716190161292008-07-14T02:15:00.001+10:002013-12-14T21:30:45.398+11:00Picking up a new Hobby<br />I went to my sister's 30th birthday a couple weeks ago.<br />Besides having a great party we decided to go wakeboarding.<br />It was to be my 3rd time. Marvin, Urte's boyfriend lent me his kiteboard<br />and off we went.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOIFFgT4FpI/UqwtMUCzNjI/AAAAAAAAAl0/ryMBaXYN9H0/s1600/dsc_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOIFFgT4FpI/UqwtMUCzNjI/AAAAAAAAAl0/ryMBaXYN9H0/s400/dsc_0071.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I did have some starting difficulties ...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79QVZh4uivk/UqwtLyfGHoI/AAAAAAAAAlo/pCkOIijiLGY/s1600/dsc_0079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79QVZh4uivk/UqwtLyfGHoI/AAAAAAAAAlo/pCkOIijiLGY/s400/dsc_0079.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjgwr9JcjAU/UqwtMcJc_uI/AAAAAAAAAls/YE7hAcri15U/s1600/dsc_0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjgwr9JcjAU/UqwtMcJc_uI/AAAAAAAAAls/YE7hAcri15U/s400/dsc_0151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />... but soon made it around the lake without much difficulty.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zBBrnuTijKg/UqwtQ3nmg-I/AAAAAAAAAmA/XQ6CufzhVvw/s1600/dsc_0305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zBBrnuTijKg/UqwtQ3nmg-I/AAAAAAAAAmA/XQ6CufzhVvw/s400/dsc_0305.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I can also jump in from the side.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZLv1aAmhoY/UqwtRYg7SII/AAAAAAAAAmI/9osA4JWwPKg/s1600/dsc_0163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZLv1aAmhoY/UqwtRYg7SII/AAAAAAAAAmI/9osA4JWwPKg/s400/dsc_0163.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And even did a run together with Urte.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aS5TRUjSfBk/UqwtRsaJmJI/AAAAAAAAAmM/BoVzTGWAeXo/s1600/dsc_0384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aS5TRUjSfBk/UqwtRsaJmJI/AAAAAAAAAmM/BoVzTGWAeXo/s400/dsc_0384.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My posture on the board clearly needs some work :)<br /><br />Since that weekend I have been to the <a href="http://princesclub.com/">Princes Club</a> in London.<br />And after trying it out on the weekend I decided to get a membership and my own kit.<br />If I go after work I could be on the water within 45min, and getting home takes about 1:15h,<br />so I am planning to go twice a week and if the weather is not good for skydiving then on the weekend too.<br /><br />It is great fun and I am slowly getting better at it.<br />I can now do tiny heel-side front-side 180s (e.g. left forward turn 180 counter clockwise to face right forward) either with as a tiny jump or just sliding on the water.<br />I am working on my heel-side back-side turns (e.g left forward turn 180 clockwise to face right forward) but only managed to do it twice :(Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Hamburg, Germany53.5510846 9.9936817999999952.9475631 8.702788299999991 54.1546061 11.28457529999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-75336477768519953072008-06-11T09:29:00.001+10:002013-12-17T12:37:42.744+11:00Skydiving Lessons<br />After a little winter break it is time to fall out of planes again.<br /><br />I used the good old AFF student kit for my first two jumps this year.<br />It has a big 280sqft canopy, so it was no problem getting back into it.<br />The first jump I did alone and for the second one Mark joined me to <br />give me some FS1 (Formation Skydiving) coaching.<br />To get to the next level I need to pass my FS1, so I figured the earlier I <br />start practicing the earlier I get to the next level.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qa7wdfrJXuo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><br /><br />On our first two coaching jumps we just practiced getting out of the plane together<br />and doing some slow and fast falling by de-arching and arching.<br />The goal for me was to stay close to Mark after he lets go.<br />The fast falling was not a problem. <br />I just arched a lot, which made me drop faster and catch up with Mark. <br />But, as you can see in the video, de-arching is a different matter.<br />It took me a while to figure it out and it still looks wobbly.<br /><br />On our third jump, we practiced turns while keeping at the same level.<br />I kept drifting away while turning, probably because I was not keeping my eyes on Mark.<br />I was also flying quite flat. But it was fun and I finished with a nice tracking-away.<br /><br />During the training I downsized to a smaller canopy, a 210sqft one, which is a bit more responsive<br />and a bit faster and a bit more fun flying.<br /><br />We had a few days where we could not jump a lot. Either due to bad weather or a faulty plane.<br />So, I used my time to practice packing.<br />I have now passed my packing test and my packing certificate is sent off to be signed by the BPA :).<br />This means jumping gets a bit cheaper and I don't have to wait for other people to pack my stuff.<br /><br />There a few things left on my todo list to get my B-license, which I really really want to get before year's end. I have to get at least 23 more jumps in. Do my jump-master training, do at least 5 out of 10 accuracy landings within a 30m radius, ...<br />So, as long as the weather does not let me down it all looks achievable.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Lewknor, Oxfordshire OX49, UK51.673315 -0.96657200000004225.254653500000003 -42.275165500000043 78.0919765 40.342021499999959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-50071961830907316712008-05-07T15:32:00.001+10:002013-12-14T21:31:11.980+11:00Weekend in Wales<br />Kym, Sophie, Kate and I decided to spend the May Bank Holiday weekend in Wales.<br />We left for Swansea on Friday. The place we stayed at for the night was a pub that rented out<br />rooms. When we got there there was a live band playing and we had to squeeze through the many people with our luggage ... very odd.<br /><br />The next day we picked up our rental car and headed up the coast.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sRO4rDyiK0/UqwrzJKwIDI/AAAAAAAAAlE/pHfYayS-FiE/s1600/dsc_0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sRO4rDyiK0/UqwrzJKwIDI/AAAAAAAAAlE/pHfYayS-FiE/s400/dsc_0074.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We took a walk to the Worm's Head and then had some food at the pub there.<br />Afterwards we went to check into our B&amp;B in Port Eynon.<br />In the evening we had a lovely diner in a small restaurant near the bay.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbWPGqjSjwg/UqwrwiwRYvI/AAAAAAAAAk0/U4Y41hi_0jE/s1600/dsc_0128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbWPGqjSjwg/UqwrwiwRYvI/AAAAAAAAAk0/U4Y41hi_0jE/s400/dsc_0128.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On Sunday we took a walk along Rhossili bay and then drove up to Tenby.<br />The weather was a mix of sunshine and a few little showers. <br />Fortunatly we were mostly in the car when it did rain.<br />On our way back we stopped along the coast and sat outside<br />listening to the waves, drinking pims and enjoying a bit of sunshine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EueO7F570Wo/UqwrvKzgrqI/AAAAAAAAAks/3zShB98zJcQ/s1600/dsc_0178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EueO7F570Wo/UqwrvKzgrqI/AAAAAAAAAks/3zShB98zJcQ/s400/dsc_0178.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Before getting back to the B&amp;B we stopped at the Three Cliffs and watched the sun set.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RN7XzJkUA8c/UqwrydqEBmI/AAAAAAAAAk8/KJOEDlLBYwA/s1600/dsc_0181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RN7XzJkUA8c/UqwrydqEBmI/AAAAAAAAAk8/KJOEDlLBYwA/s400/dsc_0181.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_ywRGNWh8g/Uqwr76sU5NI/AAAAAAAAAlc/5Rbyn_71PYQ/s1600/dsc_0205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_ywRGNWh8g/Uqwr76sU5NI/AAAAAAAAAlc/5Rbyn_71PYQ/s400/dsc_0205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />What a sight to end the evening with!<br /><br />On our last day we took a walk along the cliffs south of Worm's Head.<br />It was a beautiful day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDvtDtU7a48/Uqwr2u_yJCI/AAAAAAAAAlM/sXx213XsiF8/s1600/dsc_0230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDvtDtU7a48/Uqwr2u_yJCI/AAAAAAAAAlM/sXx213XsiF8/s400/dsc_0230.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PpP1Wc0aSg/Uqwr4FgeQGI/AAAAAAAAAlU/c9qXPvqb-p4/s1600/dsc_0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PpP1Wc0aSg/Uqwr4FgeQGI/AAAAAAAAAlU/c9qXPvqb-p4/s400/dsc_0256.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Unfortunately we had to return the car and head back home.<br />I would not have minded spending a few more days in Wales.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Port Eynon, Swansea SA3, UK51.547634 -4.215975999999955125.128984000000003 -45.524569999999954 77.966284 37.092618000000044tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-74140332931651982782008-04-07T15:53:00.001+10:002013-12-15T22:46:46.155+11:00Indoor Skydiving at Airkix<br />Kate got me 10 minutes of indoor skydiving for my birthday<br />last December, and we finally found the time to do it. <br />We both took the train to Milton Keynes, Kate <br />wanted to do some indoor skiing there and I had booked my<br />"flight-time".<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wbkWIv5JxNI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><br /><br />It was quite different to jumping out of the plane.<br />For one, it is not as pretty ...<br />but you do get to see and feel how you much you move around in the<br />air.<br /><br />When jumping out of a plane you don't really have a point of reference<br />to see if you are drifting sideways or back and forth.<br />In the windtunnel on the other hand you are surrounded by walls.<br /><br />I flew 5 times for 2 minutes each.<br />The first one was for getting used to how it all works <br />and from there on the instructor gave me a bunch of things to do:<br />Turning, shifting sideways, which I found quite difficult,<br />Going backwards and forward and moving up and down.<br />Then we went on to do diagonal movements, from lower edge to upper opposite edge ...<br /><br />It was great fun and I learnt a lot.<br /><br />Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-33552223261406886922008-03-18T17:29:00.001+11:002013-12-14T20:54:50.808+11:00Snowboarding in Obergurgl<br />Only a week after we got back from our trip to the Czech republic we took off again to go snowboarding in <a href="http://www.obergurgl.com/">Obergurgl</a>.<br />Kate booked us a hotel right next to the slopes in Hochgurgl. <br />We flew out to Innsbruck on Sunday, checked into our hotel and rented some skis for Kate.<br /><br />Monday's weather wasn't the best. It was windy and the slopes were a bit icy. It was Kate's first day skiing in about 10 years, but she managed just fine.<br />We stayed on the blue slopes on the Hochgurgl side of the resort.<br />It snowed all afternoon and all through the night.<br /><br />Tuesday was much prettier, the sun was shining for the most part of the day and skiing got much easier for Kate. We went over to the Obergurgl side. I got to practise a few jumps and Kate tried a red run without even knowing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gQVIqo8Vd4g/UqwqlGXEhbI/AAAAAAAAAkY/PUUVUQiWjJQ/s1600/dsc00048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gQVIqo8Vd4g/UqwqlGXEhbI/AAAAAAAAAkY/PUUVUQiWjJQ/s400/dsc00048.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Wednesday was a bad day again. It was snowing and windy and we could not see a whole lot, but we stayed on the slopes till closing time.<br />We had a deal with the ski rental place that, if Kate decided to buy some skis after 3 days, we would not have to pay for the rentals. So, in the evening Kate decided to purchased the same kind of skis, she was renting.<br /><br />Thursday was a fantastic day with lots of sunshine. I could not wait to get out on the untouched snow.<br />While Kate was getting ready I was out there doing a bit of off piste boarding and went back to the hotel to meet up with Kate. <br />I had rented some snow blades(very short skis) for the day, which at first were a bit of pain but proved to be a lot of fun. We went over to the Obergurgl side again.<br />I tried a few jumps and Kate practised going on a few red runs.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aiawZBDCi5w/UqwqljRwwUI/AAAAAAAAAkc/wwTEFf6NCIs/s1600/dsc00081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aiawZBDCi5w/UqwqljRwwUI/AAAAAAAAAkc/wwTEFf6NCIs/s400/dsc00081.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Friday was a bad day again. Snowing most of the day and visibility was quite bad. We stayed on the Hochgurgl side. We ended up finishing early because I hurt myself doing a stupid jump. The jump was actually very nice,<br />just the landing wasn't quite right. I landed on my board on a steep part of the hill, fell on my back sliding downwards. The board caught the snow again and I summersulted head over feet down the hill, landing on my neck and back. I was glad that I wore a helmet and spine protector, checked that I could still feel my toes and was able to turn my head ... We did a couple more runs but my strained back and neck muscles did not approve of it too much and since the weather was pretty bad we decided to jut go back to the hotel.<br /><br />Saturday was a great day again but also our last. :(<br />Even though I was still hurting quite a bit we had a fantastic day.<br />We went all the way up to 3080m (Wurmkogl) which had a fantastic view of all the mountains around us.<br />Kate's skiing had improved quite a bit in these few days and we enjoyed every minute on the slopes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2hRxzbMge4/UqwqkV9WOKI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/5Yx4yLDmmSY/s1600/dsc00115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2hRxzbMge4/UqwqkV9WOKI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/5Yx4yLDmmSY/s400/dsc00115.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After we checked out of the hotel and returned Kate's rented boots we took a bus and train back to Innsbruck.<br />Had a very nice meal in the old part of the town to finish off this wonderfull day.<br /><br />Sunday it was raining in Innsbruck, so we visited a museum and stuffed ourselves with Sacher cake and Sacher coffee and took the plane back home in the evening.<br /><br />I am looking forward to our next winter holiday :)Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com06456 Obergurgl, Austria46.87016 11.02729999999996820.45151 -30.281294000000031 73.28881 52.335893999999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-9559148997392858662008-03-06T17:06:00.001+11:002013-12-14T20:50:49.953+11:00Cross Country Skiing in the Czech Republic<br />This is becoming a family tradition.<br />For the past years we have been going cross country skiing<br />in the Czech Republic. And so far we have been fortunate to have had plenty or at least sufficient amount of snow... Not this year :(.<br />The weather forecast had already been bad and we contemplated taking the skis.<br />We did take them anyways, rather safe than sorry.<br /><br />So, we took off. Kate and I visited Dirk and Susi in Leipzig and spend a night there before<br />driving to the Czech Republic. On the way there we also stopped to pay my older sister, Ela, a visit, who was at a dancing competition with her daughters.<br /><br />Then we got to Horní Blatná and it did not look at all like skiing.<br />Most of the snow has melted away. Fortunately our host told us that there are a few places on the north side of the mountains left that may have enough snow.<br />We decided to give it a try, packed our skis and hiking boots(just in case).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xqn7nrXISSo/UqwoXrktO9I/AAAAAAAAAjQ/1eBZLdeTjR4/s1600/dsc_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xqn7nrXISSo/UqwoXrktO9I/AAAAAAAAAjQ/1eBZLdeTjR4/s400/dsc_0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The snow was quite slushy but it was still OK to ski on it.<br />Or even build a snowman ... a tiny one, though.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_88vqiD8F0/UqwoXgiff3I/AAAAAAAAAjM/m5c3hF71YYk/s1600/dsc_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_88vqiD8F0/UqwoXgiff3I/AAAAAAAAAjM/m5c3hF71YYk/s400/dsc_0032.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />Sometimes there were patches of no snow and we either had to walk or<br />venture off track trying to stay on the snow as long as possible<br />doing zic-zacs around the trees.<br /><br />The weather was gorgeous. It became so warm, over 20C in the sun that <br />my sister and I decided to just ski in shorts and t-shirt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rrOSeJvcFrc/UqwoYMeU2WI/AAAAAAAAAjY/NgMs3QpB3iI/s1600/dsc_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rrOSeJvcFrc/UqwoYMeU2WI/AAAAAAAAAjY/NgMs3QpB3iI/s400/dsc_0044.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />The further we got to the south facing side of the mountain the less snow we had.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OtWQbJL7ZM/UqwobkhFj9I/AAAAAAAAAjk/aaQ695HAgzY/s1600/dsc_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OtWQbJL7ZM/UqwobkhFj9I/AAAAAAAAAjk/aaQ695HAgzY/s400/dsc_0069.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Up to a point where there was hardly any left.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGu79AZRLAM/UqwodWAHfjI/AAAAAAAAAjs/u08EJxVp3zs/s1600/dsc_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGu79AZRLAM/UqwodWAHfjI/AAAAAAAAAjs/u08EJxVp3zs/s320/dsc_0082.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />The next day the weather got worse, it was very cloudy and it had rained a bit.<br />We decided to give the skis a try again, but it was pretty clear that that would be the last day<br />for them.<br />The following day we tried again, but gave up after just a few minutes and took a walk instead.<br />As the wether did not improve we went to see the Katerina Springs just north of Cheb on the 4th day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ym9PodKEC8Y/UqwodqYQACI/AAAAAAAAAjw/huAx6eMxuE0/s1600/dsc_0121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ym9PodKEC8Y/UqwodqYQACI/AAAAAAAAAjw/huAx6eMxuE0/s400/dsc_0121.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />On the 5th day the sun came out again and we hiked around in the area.<br />It was very nice though I would have enjoyed it a bit more on skis.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RjYJ9yO1x1M/UqwonsLOw7I/AAAAAAAAAkE/eicsSCUbSN0/s1600/dsc_0161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RjYJ9yO1x1M/UqwonsLOw7I/AAAAAAAAAkE/eicsSCUbSN0/s400/dsc_0161.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The following day it was cloudy again and it was raining a bit.<br />We did not want to waste the day and went hiking again.<br /><br />The day we had to go back home it started snowing again<br />and it got very very windy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IaPmbcRBp_k/UqwoggYoDVI/AAAAAAAAAj8/te6eT6AoiDQ/s1600/dsc_0166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IaPmbcRBp_k/UqwoggYoDVI/AAAAAAAAAj8/te6eT6AoiDQ/s400/dsc_0166.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It was a very enjoyable trip but either there is going to be snow there next year or we will have to choose a different destination.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Horní Blatná, Czech Republic50.390393300000007 12.7709479000000150.349896300000005 12.69026690000001 50.430890300000009 12.85162890000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-58792569316373927822007-12-31T10:15:00.001+11:002013-12-14T20:41:01.886+11:00Pico-Terabox - Maybe the smallest 1TB server?<br />For a while now I have been meaning to get on of these tiny <a href="http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives/spearhead/pico-itx/">Pico-ITX</a> boards and build a little server with it.<br />I wanted at least 1TB of diskspace and I wanted it to be small.<br />I ordered the Pico-ITX a while ago but never managed to find enough time to build a case for it.<br />The Pico-ITX I got from &nbsp;<a href="http://mini-itx.com/">mini-itx.com</a>, along with a tiny DC-DC converter and external power supply, 1GB RAM, a 8GB flash card and IDE to CF converter.<br />The only 1TB harddrive I could find was a Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000, so I got that one.<br /><br />I first wanted to go for an old radio as a case, but could not find one that I really liked, so I decided to just build a simple small case out of aluminium. <br />I bought some 500x500 mm alu-sheets from the hardware store some wood for decorating and got started.<br />The box measures 180x100x70 mm. The hardrive just fits into it with some space on one side for cables and the 8GB CF card. Above the hardrive sits the Pico-ITX board and next to it there is just enough room for cables and the DC-DC converter.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--brBkii_xp0/UqwmLoJbNzI/AAAAAAAAAiw/2thuyRf6Lr4/s1600/dsc_0303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--brBkii_xp0/UqwmLoJbNzI/AAAAAAAAAiw/2thuyRf6Lr4/s400/dsc_0303.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After running it for a while I did notice that the harddrive got quite warm and heated up the case, so I decides to attach some alu-profiles as heat sinks to the back of the case.<br />I also made a little air duct(out of paper) for the Pico-ITX board.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HMCaqvF7i0g/UqwmLxbViZI/AAAAAAAAAi4/YtpsKgRx1Cg/s1600/dsc_0309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HMCaqvF7i0g/UqwmLxbViZI/AAAAAAAAAi4/YtpsKgRx1Cg/s400/dsc_0309.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I put an &nbsp;<a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu 7.10</a>&nbsp;on it and the system is now running night and day as a server which does nightly backups, runs a <a href="http://slimdevices.com/">slimserver</a> and acts as a NAS.<br /><br />It was a fun little project and I am quite pleased with the result.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-585XXcfLE/UqwmLnKd-UI/AAAAAAAAAi0/UJMjKzCjmgU/s1600/dsc_0311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-585XXcfLE/UqwmLnKd-UI/AAAAAAAAAi0/UJMjKzCjmgU/s400/dsc_0311.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.511213899999987 -0.1198243999999704151.195100899999986 -0.7652713999999704 51.827326899999989 0.52562260000002958tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-78844372783638961032007-12-28T09:06:00.001+11:002013-12-14T20:33:29.986+11:00Christmas 2007Kate and I decided to spend Christmas in London this year.<br />On the 22nd we had a little Christmas dinner with our house mate, Gareth, and some colleagues from work, Jarkko, his girlfriend Tina and a friend of theirs. Jarkko and Tina cooked a ham, which is the traditional dish for Christmas in Finland. They also brought a salmon which we smoked in the oven in a special smoking bag. We had special Finish mulled wine with the diner and for desert Jarkko and Tina's friend had made some traditional Finish fruit salad. All very tasty and way too much to eat.<br />Though the feasting did not stop with the desert. After we relocated to the living room we all enjoyed Tina's homemade cookies and more mulled wine: I made some Feuerzangenbowle, a traditional German winter drink. It is basically mulled wine with a big cone of suggar being flambed with rum which then caramelizes and drips into the wine ... tasty! It was a lovely evening, very christmasy!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9C1IxaON8Fk/UqwlRJvs3iI/AAAAAAAAAik/nYVPzRPwjTc/s1600/dsc_0280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9C1IxaON8Fk/UqwlRJvs3iI/AAAAAAAAAik/nYVPzRPwjTc/s400/dsc_0280.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />On the 24th Kate's parents arrived and we all went to the Albert Hall for the "Christmas Carols by Candle Light". I realy like the Albert Hall and the Chrismat concerts are always great fun, lovely music and the audience gets to join in for some of the songs.<br />We had more Feuerzangenbowle after we got back.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U0No1EGQIIs/UqwlQmXaoyI/AAAAAAAAAiY/BktBPoUHMeE/s1600/dsc_0295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U0No1EGQIIs/UqwlQmXaoyI/AAAAAAAAAiY/BktBPoUHMeE/s400/dsc_0295.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The 25th was unpacking gifts and cooking and eating for the rest of the day.<br />We had a tasty turkey with all the trimmings, a yummy Christmas pudding which Kate's mom made and a delicious Christmas cake, Kate made... too much food!<br />On boxing day we all went to the movies and watched "The Golden Compass". And for diner we had fantastic tasting venison.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcvsRCfPaCE/UqwlQnzlOoI/AAAAAAAAAiU/Qm1t9FFDp5E/s1600/dsc_0253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcvsRCfPaCE/UqwlQnzlOoI/AAAAAAAAAiU/Qm1t9FFDp5E/s400/dsc_0253.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.511213899999987 -0.1198243999999704151.195100899999986 -0.7652713999999704 51.827326899999989 0.52562260000002958tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-50879570108157326562007-12-21T15:04:00.001+11:002013-12-14T20:29:31.702+11:00Snowboarding in ObergurglMy sister, Urte, invited me and Kate to go snowboarding with her and her boyfriend, Marvin.<br />I had a few holidays left that I could not carry over into the new year and how could I refuse anyways. Unfortunately Kate could not join us, because she had to work.<br /><br />I left London on the 12th for Hamburg. Marvin and Urte picked me up from the airport and we went to mys sister's place to pack and have some dinner.<br />We left around 10pm for Austria. My sister took the first 3h of driving, I had the awful middle part and Marvin did the last bit.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCBSvwWpuFU/UqwkW2BCXUI/AAAAAAAAAh0/SNo8BHDTEl8/s1600/dsc_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCBSvwWpuFU/UqwkW2BCXUI/AAAAAAAAAh0/SNo8BHDTEl8/s400/dsc_0051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We got to Obergurgl at around 9ish in the morning. The weather was beautiful, sunshine, no clouds at about -10C. We did not have a place to stay yet, so we decided to first sort that out and went to the tourist information. We found a nice apartment within walking distance of the lifts. It was in the valley with big windows and a pretty view of the mountain.<br /><br />After unpacking we went straight to the lifts. Marvin and I went off-piste a few times, which turned out to be a big mistake. There was just not enough snow and we ran over a number of rocks. :(<br />Both Marvin and I had some big scratches on our boards so we decided to give them to the shop and have them fixed. <br />It was a fun day but extremely exhausting. It just showed once again that I spent too much time in front of a computer-screen and too little time exercising.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMJUcd7mGyI/UqwkWmzk7lI/AAAAAAAAAhw/gaOOCnlMZgs/s1600/dsc_0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMJUcd7mGyI/UqwkWmzk7lI/AAAAAAAAAhw/gaOOCnlMZgs/s400/dsc_0151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The second day was not as nice as the first ... we had a few clouds in the sky. ;)<br />We picked up our boards from the shop. My board was almost good as new and Marvin's was still rideable but it's edge was quite damaged. <br />We did (try to avoid) that rocks that day but could not ignore some of the untouched hills where it looked like the snow was deep enough. It was great and we ended up with only some minor scratches not worth mentioning.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZLmAkSthnM/UqwkYbUPtJI/AAAAAAAAAiA/_X5rDj4O03A/s1600/dsc_0162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZLmAkSthnM/UqwkYbUPtJI/AAAAAAAAAiA/_X5rDj4O03A/s400/dsc_0162.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After the lifts closed we went shopping, I needed some gloves and I wanted to buy a helmet. Marvin decided to get a new board, because his one was more broken and did not ride very well anymore.<br />We spent the rest of the evening cooking, eating and playing card games.<br /><br />The weather got better over the next days and colder ... -15C.<br />We found a few untouched parts of the hills again and some tiny ramps to practice some jumps.<br />All in all just fun. Trulli somehow hurt her finger, I did too, and one of the jumps ended in a crash with me hurting my left knee ... I am just not 20 anymore :( <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qPL367EonY/UqwkYg48OOI/AAAAAAAAAiE/SxC3Q3Rip1Y/s1600/marvin_jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qPL367EonY/UqwkYg48OOI/AAAAAAAAAiE/SxC3Q3Rip1Y/s400/marvin_jump.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />One of the evenings we went to the <a href="http://www.aqua-dome.at/xxl/_lang/en/_area/therme/index.html">Aqua Dome</a> in Laengenfeld, a spa with great outdoor pools. It was very relaxing.<br /><br />On the 17th it was time to go back home again :(<br />We did some boarding for a good part of the day and then packed up.<br />Marvin and Urte dropped me off in Munich with a couple hours to spare before my flight back to London was scheduled.<br />It was a great 5 days of snowboarding!Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com06456 Obergurgl, Austria46.87016 11.02729999999996820.45151 -30.281294000000031 73.28881 52.335893999999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-84891526845549225342007-09-24T09:27:00.001+10:002013-12-14T20:24:25.817+11:00A Trip to Feldberg in late August<br />It was about time for us to take a break from the busy city life.<br />We decided to make it simple and visit my folks in Feldberg, Germany.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--dVTaQHX3q0/UqwjaC2sNrI/AAAAAAAAAhg/BUbT_neiWwI/s1600/dsc_0276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--dVTaQHX3q0/UqwjaC2sNrI/AAAAAAAAAhg/BUbT_neiWwI/s400/dsc_0276.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We went canoeing with my folks on Saturday. <br />Fledberg is a great place for that. <br />It has many lakes which were formed during the last ice age.<br />Most of them are connected by little natural channels and streams.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4LhrEEb0hg/UqwjRyK5RGI/AAAAAAAAAhU/Ve7ebyVqZgM/s1600/dsc_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4LhrEEb0hg/UqwjRyK5RGI/AAAAAAAAAhU/Ve7ebyVqZgM/s400/dsc_0218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On Sunday we just sat around drank Pims and enjoyed not having to do anything. Most of the evenenings we played dice and card games with my parent.<br />One day Kate and I decided to do a bit of cycling around the lakes.<br />It was a beautiful day and we stopped in a little pub for a couple pints before we continued.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JovUIXgwv4w/UqwjZpo3xoI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Bu0TDGDzuHk/s1600/dsc_0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JovUIXgwv4w/UqwjZpo3xoI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Bu0TDGDzuHk/s400/dsc_0269.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We had another 2 days of kayaking but the weather was getting worse and worse and all in all a bit chilly to be out on the lakes. So one day we decided to visit a local gallery and on another a castle not to far away.<br /><br />We got back to London in the evening of Saturday and went straight to a colleague's BBQ.<br />It got quite late and we did need all of Sunday to recover.<br /><br />The trip to Feldberg was all we had asked for, a good time to relax and enjoy.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Feldberger Seenlandschaft, Germany53.33 13.43333000000006953.1782645 13.110606500000069 53.4817355 13.756053500000069tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-86693458152060009492007-08-15T10:14:00.001+10:002013-12-14T20:17:25.680+11:00Becoming a SkydiverOn 4th August, after weeks of waiting for good weather, I finally got my birthday present! Kate and I got up very early in the morning to catch a train to Princes Risborough. Unfortunately we went to the wrong train station. With only minutes to spare we managed to catch a cab to the right station to get our train. From Princes Risborough, we took another cab to the drop zone, a little field near Lewknor just off the M40. Unfortunately the weather had gotten worse, from beautiful sunshine when we left London to overcast and being surprisingly cold at the drop zone. It was 8.30am and we were the first ones to arrive. Eventually, the clouds broke and the aeroplane arrived. I got my gear and at around 11am it was time to take off.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-omvIX-GtDik/UqqmQESNqAI/AAAAAAAAAfs/q3If24-NWbQ/s1600/a002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-omvIX-GtDik/UqqmQESNqAI/AAAAAAAAAfs/q3If24-NWbQ/s400/a002.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></div><br />My two instructors, Simon and Ian, talked me through the first jump and made me practice. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8tC6tplzjX8/UqqmQEMh0bI/AAAAAAAAAfk/IHDoC16BC-k/s1600/a007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8tC6tplzjX8/UqqmQEMh0bI/AAAAAAAAAfk/IHDoC16BC-k/s400/a007.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></div><br />It was a small aeroplane, we all had to squeeze in and there wasn't much room for manoeuvre! The time to wait seemed endless. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BeAlCollPTM/UqqmQOzQXKI/AAAAAAAAAfg/ieSWZq3A1M0/s1600/a010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BeAlCollPTM/UqqmQOzQXKI/AAAAAAAAAfg/ieSWZq3A1M0/s400/a010.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div><br />But finally we got up to 11,000 feet and it was time to repeat my drills, but now for real:<br /><br />Simon: "Ready to skydive?"<br />Me: "Ready!"<br />Simon: "Get into the door."<br /><br />So I got into the door, both feet dangling outside and a cold air blowing into my face. There was not much time to think. Both hands down near the edge of the aeroplane, turning towards my primary instructor, Simon:<br /><br />Me: "Check in"<br />Simon: "Okay!"<br /><br />Then turning outwards to my secondary instructor, Ian:<br /><br />Me: "Check out"<br />Ian: "Okay!"<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ioBQZJHzvNI/UqqmSCrn-8I/AAAAAAAAAf4/y76M_cXBuCA/s1600/a012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ioBQZJHzvNI/UqqmSCrn-8I/AAAAAAAAAf4/y76M_cXBuCA/s400/a012.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div><br />Then I pushed myself up, down and then out of the door with a full arch and suddenly we were all flying through the air.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJaHSSC3S0E/UqqmTPH_6oI/AAAAAAAAAf8/nZgO5Je6pfQ/s1600/a017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJaHSSC3S0E/UqqmTPH_6oI/AAAAAAAAAf8/nZgO5Je6pfQ/s400/a017.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div><br />I saw the horizon and was as stable as I could before I started my practice exercises, checking my altimeter, checking with my instructors for guidance. After I got an ok from both of them I had to find the toggle to launch my parachute three times, but not pull yet! Then back to checking altitude and instructions. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RHSmlpNxwBQ/UqqmlaWqvoI/AAAAAAAAAhA/_nixkpAPOhk/s1600/a034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RHSmlpNxwBQ/UqqmlaWqvoI/AAAAAAAAAhA/_nixkpAPOhk/s320/a034.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><br />At 6,000 I was supposed to lock into my altitude, signal 5,500 and pull my toggle. But this time everything was happening so fast, and there were signals from my instructors all over the place and before I noticed Simon took my hand and put it to the toggle. It took me a while to understand what was going on until I finally realised we were at 6,000 feet and I shouldn't wait any longer but pull my toggle.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aluh4qdmyKk/UqqmU75dLgI/AAAAAAAAAgM/Vk12PFUl_ww/s1600/a043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aluh4qdmyKk/UqqmU75dLgI/AAAAAAAAAgM/Vk12PFUl_ww/s400/a043.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Four seconds later, after a jerk from the 'chute, I was hanging in the air. But no time to rest just yet. It was time for canopy exercises. Look up, check if it is big and square, and grab my steering toggles, pulling on left and right to make sure I can steer, and pulling both down at once to make sure the brakes work! Everything worked fine. I turned around to see where the drop zone was, to find out where I had to land, and a voice started talking to me on the radio. It was a very calm and reassuring voice. I was told everything was ok and I could just enjoy myself for a bit, heading into the wind and doing some turns. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OXbLDlNp5dk/UqqmU_OkRSI/AAAAAAAAAgI/vbmdP1iHVPA/s1600/dsc_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OXbLDlNp5dk/UqqmU_OkRSI/AAAAAAAAAgI/vbmdP1iHVPA/s400/dsc_0059.jpg" height="264" width="400" /></a></div><br />But there was too much excitement than to just enjoy the view. I started to descend and the voice on the radio started to guide me towards the drop zone. The drop zone came closer and closer, I made my final turn and was heading upwind, passing the green grass of the landing spot and then there was a voice saying, "Jan, 3, 2, 1, flare!". All of a sudden I was standing safely in the middle of a wheat field. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HRi-OQLFYw4/UqqmWpp-G-I/AAAAAAAAAgY/XYvhzdGAync/s1600/dsc_0077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HRi-OQLFYw4/UqqmWpp-G-I/AAAAAAAAAgY/XYvhzdGAync/s400/dsc_0077.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div><br />The centre of the drop zone was not far away at all, though. I packed my parachute and got back, being a bit disappointed with myself with not being as good as I thought I should have been - but it felt great and I didn't fall over when landing!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3SKnLmhFeM/UqqmZBST2MI/AAAAAAAAAgg/qmBDs93R1vw/s1600/dsc_0098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3SKnLmhFeM/UqqmZBST2MI/AAAAAAAAAgg/qmBDs93R1vw/s400/dsc_0098.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div><br />I had my debriefing on the ground with my instructors and although there was plenty of room for improvement, they advanced me to the second level and told me it wasn't that bad and that I shouldn't be so hard on myself. So, I finally took out my credit card and decided to pay for the next seven jumps. I did one more jump that day. In this jump I was supposed to do a 90 degree turn in the air. The second jump was much better than the first one. It seemed to take much longer, and I knew what to expect. I did my exercises and turns, and at 6,000 I locked on and pulled my own toggle. Again they guided me to land in the wheat field!<br /><br />It was a gorgeous day and Kate and I both got sunburned. We were ready to go home and return the next morning, but Martin the club owner invited us to stay for a barbecue in the field and we crashed the night in one of the other skydiver's tents, using emergency blankets to sleep with! It was a beautiful evening.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgNqE7wGr6g/Uqqmg0tUJgI/AAAAAAAAAgs/Ku4q_hsoVgk/s1600/dsc_0106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgNqE7wGr6g/Uqqmg0tUJgI/AAAAAAAAAgs/Ku4q_hsoVgk/s400/dsc_0106.jpg" height="228" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The next morning, at 7.45 we got up again. I was scheduled for the first flight. This was to be the last time I jumped out with two instructors and this time they were going to let go of me, to see if I could fly stably by myself. We got to 11,000, got out of the plane and got stable. They started to let go of me and I could now really understand what a difference it made when they held on to me, but I was alright. Then it was the same procedure as always, at 6,000 I locked on, signalled 5-5 and pulled. Unfortunately the wind was stronger than the day before and we left the aeroplane too far downwind. Even though I was trying to stay upwind, it was impossible for me, with my big student canopy, to make it all the way back to the drop zone. So again another landing in a field, but I was closer to the centre of the drop zone than ever before. With only about 10 metres to spare, I landed with a good standing landing - but sadly nobody could see it!<br /><br />I did three more jumps that day. My fourth jump was with only one instructor and I had to do two 180 degree turns in the air. This time I did my landing procedures all by myself. I aimed straight for the green. My approach was just right, but unfortunately I flared a little bit early and landed straight on my knees in front of all the people watching! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NflzROoJ9k/UqqmgmE028I/AAAAAAAAAgo/Iv-iGQ1l_58/s1600/dsc_0163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NflzROoJ9k/UqqmgmE028I/AAAAAAAAAgo/Iv-iGQ1l_58/s400/dsc_0163.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div><br />On my fifth jump I had to do two 360 turns. I did that one with a new instructor, and instead of doing two 360s we did two 90 degree turns and a 360 turn. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRBS7iTNMcw/UqqmiX9EoSI/AAAAAAAAAg4/ZjLVyeBgGYs/s1600/dsc_0180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRBS7iTNMcw/UqqmiX9EoSI/AAAAAAAAAg4/ZjLVyeBgGYs/s400/dsc_0180.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div><br />My sixth jump was one of the most exciting jumps. This time I had to jump out of the aeroplane by myself, with the instructor closely following me. As soon as I had my heading, I was supposed to do a backflip, followed by some forward tracking. My exit was a bit unstable, as I bumped with my chute against the door frame of the plane, but everything went fine and after the forward tracking I had plenty of time before I had to pull my toggle. I managed to land standing, even though I flared a bit early again. <br /><br />This was probably one of the most adrenalin filled weekends I have had. We got back home and had a glass of wine to celebrate and I must say I have never been so drunk after one glass of anything!<br /><br />We went back a week later, on the 12th, to finish my course. On that day we had more clouds and I was on the second plane to go up. By the time we reached 9,000 feet we were told that we didn't have clearance to go up to the full 11,000 into the clouds. What a bummer, we had to land again. After a few hours we finally got clearance and I did my seventh jump. This time a backflip, two 360s, and some forward tracking. This was a fantastic jump. I exited, I did my flip and in front of me was a big, puffy cloud. I couldn't see my instructor just yet, so I continued with my turns. I started my forward tracking before my instructor showed up on the left side of me, giving me two thumbs up and with me having a big grin, checking my altitude and realised that we were only at 8,000 feet so far and I had plenty of time to enjoy the freefall. I landed by myself again - it started to get easier. My last and final jump was the so-called "hop and pop". I exited at 5,000 feet, stabilised, waited about five to ten seconds and pulled my toggle. That was it! I had now completed my AFF course and am eagerly waiting for my next chance to go skydiving!<br /><br /><br />Here a little video of my first jump:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xYF931hGjA8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' /></div><span id="goog_1869699203"></span><span id="goog_1869699204"></span><br /><br />Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-69646620987013686742007-07-13T07:49:00.001+10:002013-12-14T20:17:25.648+11:00My parent's house turns 10<br />My mom always wanted to have a party during the summer time, so she took the ten year anniversary of the house as a good one. Kate and I booked a couple of flights for an extended weekend in Feldberg. We arrived in Berlin late in the evening on Thursday, missing the last train to Feldberg. So we called up my parents and took the S-Bahn to Oranienberg, where we had to wait for about half and hour in the cold before my parents came to pick us up.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmfjPiirAmQ/Uqqk3S7lNvI/AAAAAAAAAek/0Gr4EgBrVr8/s1600/img_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmfjPiirAmQ/Uqqk3S7lNvI/AAAAAAAAAek/0Gr4EgBrVr8/s400/img_0020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On Friday we walked around Feldberg and generally relaxed. In the evening my mom's new kayak arrived, so we started to put it all together. We finished putting it together on Saturday, when Trulli and Marvin arrived. Marvin was the first one to try it out and then Kate was up for second. Not being very experienced and getting no help from anyone, she got into the boat herself and before she knew it she was standing in the water with the boat upside down. Unfortunately nobody had a camera!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Trk9N6_MKQ/Uqqk4k_Y4UI/AAAAAAAAAe0/HmuHG5lES_Q/s1600/img_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Trk9N6_MKQ/Uqqk4k_Y4UI/AAAAAAAAAe0/HmuHG5lES_Q/s400/img_0024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In the afternoon the first people came. We had coffee and cakes and in the evening we had a big barbecue and a camp fire. Before nightfall, my mom gathered everybody together and went down to the lake, taking little boats to row across. We arrived at the bistro of a family friend. After some glasses of wine out on the little deck which stretched out onto the water, Trulli and I tried some "shoes" which enable one to walk on water.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMfbi_rl-LU/Uqqk3ru4AtI/AAAAAAAAAeo/AxKiyOQOK2c/s1600/img_0136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMfbi_rl-LU/Uqqk3ru4AtI/AAAAAAAAAeo/AxKiyOQOK2c/s400/img_0136.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />After this, my mom's friend prepared three canoes for us, each having two burning torches at the rear.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dor2sdD1JQ4/Uqqk53_mCiI/AAAAAAAAAfE/JNPmyoz4Bzs/s1600/img_0174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dor2sdD1JQ4/Uqqk53_mCiI/AAAAAAAAAfE/JNPmyoz4Bzs/s400/img_0174.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We went once around the lake in the canoes and then headed back to the bistro where we had cheese and wine before rowing back home. We finished off the evening sitting around the camp fire.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hzA-GV4tqM/Uqqk5bUkGaI/AAAAAAAAAe8/FPrLrCJC-4I/s1600/img_0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hzA-GV4tqM/Uqqk5bUkGaI/AAAAAAAAAe8/FPrLrCJC-4I/s400/img_0203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On Sunday we went wakeboarding in Neubrandenburg. It was my first time on a wakeboard and though I fell a few times, I did finally make it around the whole course, and was even able to start with a jump start.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QXHd1tE3mj0/Uqqk7X0EjyI/AAAAAAAAAfM/QtbEojDryEE/s1600/img_0300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QXHd1tE3mj0/Uqqk7X0EjyI/AAAAAAAAAfM/QtbEojDryEE/s400/img_0300.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pA4E6xN9ioI/Uqqk7UtK1jI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Q3B0YlXgEWE/s1600/img_0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pA4E6xN9ioI/Uqqk7UtK1jI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Q3B0YlXgEWE/s400/img_0327.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Monday we returned to London, after a wonderful weekend.</div>Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Feldberger Seenlandschaft, Germany53.33 13.43333000000006953.1782645 13.110606500000069 53.4817355 13.756053500000069tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-6039081350562520072007-05-11T07:45:00.001+10:002013-12-14T20:17:25.632+11:00Easter and May Bank Holiday Weekend<br />For Easter this year we decided to stay home instead of going to Germany, because I didn't manage to book any flights earlier and it was too expensive. On the Saturday was the famous Boat Race, so we prepped some Pimms, made some burgers and watched the race. On Sunday we did a bit of Easter egg hunting in the house and prepared a big Sunday roast. For dessert Kate made a chocolate Simnel (Easter) cake with marzipan eggs.<br /><br />For the holiday weekend in May we went up to Birmingham to visit Kate's friends. We visited the Black Country Museum. It was a gorgeous day and a very beautiful museum. We explored every bit of it and sat outside a local pub and enjoyed some ales.<br /><br />Before we went home, we went to see the Cadburys chocolate factory, where we learned all about chocolate making and the history of Cadbury.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.511213899999987 -0.1198243999999704151.195100899999986 -0.7652713999999704 51.827326899999989 0.52562260000002958tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-61369886593936079752007-02-19T10:04:00.001+11:002013-12-14T20:17:25.635+11:00Snowboarding, moving, skiing<br />In late January I went to Washington to meet up with the development team there. To make good use of the time, Simon invited me to come along snowboarding in West Virginia. As I didn't have any gear I decided to buy my very first snowboard. We were about 10 adults and 5 children in a beautiful, not so little mountain cottage. We cooked our own food every day and enjoyed snowboarding from Wednesday to Sunday. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v1JxWrjuPGQ/UqqeNvtiDtI/AAAAAAAAAd4/1ccZ1gh3EHs/s1600/cimg3052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v1JxWrjuPGQ/UqqeNvtiDtI/AAAAAAAAAd4/1ccZ1gh3EHs/s640/cimg3052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Then I had a week of work at the Reston office. While I was in the States my flatmates got called up by our estate agents who said we had 2 weeks to move house as the landlords didn't want to renew our contract. Fortunately they found somewhere just around the corner. So I got back to London at 7am on Saturday morning, and came straight home from the airport to find most of my belongings already packed into boxes. I kept packing what was left and once we had a van for moving our stuff, we started packing up the van. For the next two days we kept moving stuff and we finally finished on Sunday night.<br /><br />Just a week later Kate and I flew to Germany to go cross-country skiing with my parents and sister in the Czech Republic. The weather wasn't too great. The temperatures started rising above freezing point and rain was predicted. We were afraid we would not have any snow to ski on but it all turned out to be very beautiful.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--LUCWLyVTWQ/UqqfW__aH3I/AAAAAAAAAeM/wnisvEzuo3M/s1600/img_0143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--LUCWLyVTWQ/UqqfW__aH3I/AAAAAAAAAeM/wnisvEzuo3M/s400/img_0143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I did promise Kate that she would get a snowman for Valentine's day, so when we were taking a break from skiing I built a big snowman right next to the track. I spent about an hour decorating him and turning him into a punk snowman.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TqBPpOhr6b8/UqqfWC8jc-I/AAAAAAAAAeE/V0Fu7F6R4SI/s1600/img_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TqBPpOhr6b8/UqqfWC8jc-I/AAAAAAAAAeE/V0Fu7F6R4SI/s400/img_0081.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />The hotel we stayed in was barely tolerable. The food was just plain awful and the staff was plain rude. But that didn't stop us exploring the area and find some other restaurants where we could enjoy beatiful Czech food. We had a few nice days where it was just sunny with fresh snow that came down overnight. All in all, we were very lucky.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRX2zT9LmvA/UqqfWpBO4iI/AAAAAAAAAeI/CYNGandGl3E/s1600/img_0176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRX2zT9LmvA/UqqfWpBO4iI/AAAAAAAAAeI/CYNGandGl3E/s400/img_0176.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-36981221179991499502007-01-16T09:28:00.001+11:002013-12-14T20:17:25.606+11:00Waterpolo in Cambridge<br />In January my friend Alex from Germany invited Kate and I to come and meet her in Cambridge, <br />where she and her team mates were holding a water polo game. <br />We got there in the morning and the weather was a bit rainy but sometimes the sun came through. We did some sightseeing and went down the river in a punt, where I more than once lost the pole and almost fell in!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jThbl8phY_A/Uqqdk1CdiwI/AAAAAAAAAdY/tiQJND9baBk/s1600/img_0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jThbl8phY_A/Uqqdk1CdiwI/AAAAAAAAAdY/tiQJND9baBk/s400/img_0103.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />We had some coffee then went on to the first game. The team was a bit short of people, so they asked me if I could join and be goalie. I'd never played water polo before but how could I refuse six women in swimming costumes? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCoLwsEIFtM/Uqqdk3GUAzI/AAAAAAAAAdc/R3nV3galQyc/s1600/img_0142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCoLwsEIFtM/Uqqdk3GUAzI/AAAAAAAAAdc/R3nV3galQyc/s400/img_0142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After a couple of games and being completely exhausted we went to a local pub, had some good English beer and lovely food. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zTV8LE3jH8A/Uqqdk7bLDVI/AAAAAAAAAdg/zuNKpSlC-UI/s1600/img_0155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zTV8LE3jH8A/Uqqdk7bLDVI/AAAAAAAAAdg/zuNKpSlC-UI/s400/img_0155.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It was good to catch up with Alex and her friends again. I'm looking forward to my next invitation to a game!Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Cambridge, UK52.205337 0.1218169999999645452.1274775 -0.039544500000035454 52.2831965 0.28317849999996453tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-68311157366833503392007-01-03T18:20:00.001+11:002013-12-14T20:17:25.642+11:00Christmas and New Year<br />Christmastime is a great time. The company I am working for, Actix, decided to have this year's Christmas party at the London zoo. Some of the people actually dressed up in animal themes costumes for the occasion.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMYb9e4z2S8/Uqqcgo31FaI/AAAAAAAAAc0/2R1eEbe9m8o/s1600/img_0149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMYb9e4z2S8/Uqqcgo31FaI/AAAAAAAAAc0/2R1eEbe9m8o/s400/img_0149.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Jarkko and Tina probably had the best costumes. They dressed up as wild cats. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lUm_P2WueY/UqqcglpFCRI/AAAAAAAAAcw/OF8tdf9DZDk/s1600/img_0156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lUm_P2WueY/UqqcglpFCRI/AAAAAAAAAcw/OF8tdf9DZDk/s400/img_0156.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We had a hypnotist, who didn't work on me, and lots of booze, which did a much better job, and we danced all night.<br /><br />At the houseshare we also prepared for Christmas. We bought a wonderful seven foot Nordman tree, which just fit into the living room. We decorated it with real candles, ornaments and lights. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XAHY3qkpMac/Uqqcy6I8LjI/AAAAAAAAAdA/2jADfkFRU3c/s1600/img_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XAHY3qkpMac/Uqqcy6I8LjI/AAAAAAAAAdA/2jADfkFRU3c/s400/img_0008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I went off to Germany to visit my parents for Christmas eve. It was a fun evening, I got a beautiful pocket watch and my mom made me a little fat angel, which I roasted over some candles.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGPE4LFTZ68/Uqqc-lVZFHI/AAAAAAAAAdI/g1UDyIrwey4/s1600/img_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGPE4LFTZ68/Uqqc-lVZFHI/AAAAAAAAAdI/g1UDyIrwey4/s400/img_0024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I got a Photoshop book and a big pepper mill and a scuba diver bottle stop from Kate, who joined us in Germany on Boxing Day. <br /><br />For New Year's we went up to Kuehlungsborn and visited some friends from Berlin(Alex, ...). <br />We walked along the shore of the Baltic Sea, drank lots of mulled wine, and when it got dark we started to set off fireworks for the children first, and for midnight we joined the locals on the beach setting off batteries of fireworks, drinking champagne, and wishing each other the best for the coming year. Fortunately, it didn't start raining until the fireworks subsided, and we finished the night with dancing away.<br /><br />On the first of January, we followed an old tradition and decided to jump into the Baltic Sea in traditional swimming suits. My god, it was cold, brrrrr....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENDFFYMOe8E/UqqdKjfIl4I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/8jCZ0SRYY1M/s1600/img_0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ENDFFYMOe8E/UqqdKjfIl4I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/8jCZ0SRYY1M/s400/img_0065.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-21201462525329166672006-12-13T17:39:00.001+11:002013-12-14T20:17:25.580+11:00The Big Three-Oh<br />Oh what a birthday! But let's start from beginning. We decided to have a houseparty and prepare all the food ourselves. So we registered with Sainsbury's online and made a big shopping list to be delivered, with at least half being booze. Everything was going well, until the Thursday before the party, when Sainsbury's notified me that they would not deliver the goods on Friday, without any explanation, except that my account was now cancelled. <br />My parents and my sister arrived on Friday and so we all went to Sainsbury's shop where we took two trolleys and filled them up with the four-page shopping list and took a cab back. Then we started preparing and more and more friends from Germany started arriving, of course none of them at the same time. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vALIzMG_PDs/Uqqb94qbMvI/AAAAAAAAAcg/o9BJloUw5ac/s1600/img_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vALIzMG_PDs/Uqqb94qbMvI/AAAAAAAAAcg/o9BJloUw5ac/s400/img_0004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The last one to arrive was Alex at 11 o'clock at night. <br />The next day, we sent all of the guests out to explore London while the rest of us kept preparing for the party. <br />It was fantastic, we had salmon tortilla rolls, delicious lamb koftas, spicy Japanese crackers topped with crab meat, bacon and cranberry croissants, vegetable mini wraps, and much, much more. <br />It was time for the party, and lots of people showed up. Marco was mixing drinks in the kitchen, my dad was trying to translate German jokes into English, and I made some flambayed mulled wine and tried to talk to as many people as possible. Then it was close to midnight. I was locked up in the kitchen while my birthday cake was lit. Then I was brought into the room and it was overwhelming.<br />Kate made an entire computer out of cake!!! It had a flat panel screen, ergonomic keyboard, and a mouse out of home made marzipan. The cables were liquorice. Wow!!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxnaPlHSBHA/Uqqb-aGX9PI/AAAAAAAAAck/ywuZ6M3srcs/s1600/img_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxnaPlHSBHA/Uqqb-aGX9PI/AAAAAAAAAck/ywuZ6M3srcs/s400/img_0025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We opened a few bottles of very nice champagne, cut the cake. Then we all went into the living room, where I opened up my presents. <br />I got wooden games, nice rum from Germany, clothes, many cards, a 30 year old whisky which was distilled in 1976, but Kate wouldn't stop with the whisky, no, I got a little card with a picture of a bunch of skydivers on it. It was not a tandem jump, no, it was a voucher for the first level of the Accelerated Freefall course. But that will have to wait until the weather is better.<br /><br />The party kept going for a few more hours. I ended up being a bit drunk and playing a bit more guitar and I don't quite remember how well I sang.<br /><br />The next morning the guests slowly got up, they where scattered all over the house.<br />We had some breakfast and played some games and then they all had to go back to Germany.<br /><br />It was a fantastic 30th birthday.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.511213899999987 -0.1198243999999704151.195100899999986 -0.7652713999999704 51.827326899999989 0.52562260000002958tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-91406455278826644382006-10-15T14:01:00.000+10:002013-12-14T20:17:25.687+11:00Kate's Birthday Trip to BudapestIt was Kate's 28th birthday on October 4th.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MUJMzEJu5I8/UqqZi4_KlrI/AAAAAAAAAbc/G-I4akTyd3s/s1600/img_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MUJMzEJu5I8/UqqZi4_KlrI/AAAAAAAAAbc/G-I4akTyd3s/s400/img_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We decided to celebrate by going to Budapest for the weekend. Oh, what a treat... Just me and three wonderful ladies, Kate, Sophie and Kym. I was so excited, I forgot my pyjamas!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fhcbv4Ujhq4/Uqqak4cP81I/AAAAAAAAAcU/y5iVj0lmupg/s1600/img_0141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fhcbv4Ujhq4/Uqqak4cP81I/AAAAAAAAAcU/y5iVj0lmupg/s400/img_0141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We walked all over Buda and Pest, exploring both towns. We first went to a hill in Buda visiting a church built into a cave.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KpB1bApAVnM/UqqaGjLwIDI/AAAAAAAAAbk/ArZdl-sujjI/s1600/img_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KpB1bApAVnM/UqqaGjLwIDI/AAAAAAAAAbk/ArZdl-sujjI/s400/img_0031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2sqszD8a0fo/UqqaWS6WrAI/AAAAAAAAAb0/MJQfp7Qe4qM/s1600/img_0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2sqszD8a0fo/UqqaWS6WrAI/AAAAAAAAAb0/MJQfp7Qe4qM/s400/img_0043.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We went up to the top of the hill and decided to visit a war memorial, which was very poignant. In the evening we discovered a little local pub which served food. We had a good meal and of course we had to try the Unicum - a local herbal liquor, which I thought tasted good, despite what the others thought. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyvVNrWoz-4/UqqaOePkFSI/AAAAAAAAAbs/zWQgpNVQEus/s1600/img_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyvVNrWoz-4/UqqaOePkFSI/AAAAAAAAAbs/zWQgpNVQEus/s400/img_0069.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The next day, we did more sight-seeing, visited the catacombs with fake cavemen paintings on the wall, but nevertheless was very interesting. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2d2zQ0sHtCA/UqqaeLg7_oI/AAAAAAAAAb8/ouPPZq3KnzQ/s1600/img_0126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2d2zQ0sHtCA/UqqaeLg7_oI/AAAAAAAAAb8/ouPPZq3KnzQ/s400/img_0126.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />They even had a fountain of wine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHrwEMYGH7o/UqqaiFEDL-I/AAAAAAAAAcE/-Pcb6cZ4BWM/s1600/img_0134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHrwEMYGH7o/UqqaiFEDL-I/AAAAAAAAAcE/-Pcb6cZ4BWM/s400/img_0134.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Afterwards we went to see the Fisherman's Bastion and Buda Castle. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cx9vt92nq5Y/UqqaiQ8-3nI/AAAAAAAAAcI/CxOjT9GwYT8/s1600/img_0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cx9vt92nq5Y/UqqaiQ8-3nI/AAAAAAAAAcI/CxOjT9GwYT8/s400/img_0145.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In the evening we had a lovely fancy dinner, with musicians playing, while we enjoyed yet another fine meal.<br />On our last day, we went to the thermal baths in Pest, where we spent a few hours trying out every pool and just relaxing before we took the plane back home.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Budapest, Hungary47.497912 19.04023499999993947.154509499999996 18.394787999999938 47.8413145 19.68568199999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620740108793310404.post-33330192872611537332006-08-29T13:27:00.001+10:002013-12-14T20:17:25.594+11:00Off to Germany<br />Friends of mine, Birger and Josi got married on the 19th August, so we decided to take a little trip to Germany.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J9w_sTw8oXM/UqqX851pJjI/AAAAAAAAAbE/Et65BpG3kxs/s1600/img_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J9w_sTw8oXM/UqqX851pJjI/AAAAAAAAAbE/Et65BpG3kxs/s400/img_0069.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It was a very nice wedding, especially the games. In Germany it is customary to have games throughout the wedding day. For example the couple has to cut a log of wood with a two-man saw to prove they can work as a team. There is also the custom of stealing the bride. The uncle and cousin of the bride dressed up as Mafia bosses, came into the party, tied up the groom and kidnapped the bride. Half an hour later, the groom was released and had to find his bride, who was taken to numerous bars around the village. On and on it goes ... what a fun night.<br /><br />Just to prove that my hair still hasn't gotten better...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XndTpoCizh8/UqqX8WRYgCI/AAAAAAAAAbA/flSXxR322Ww/s1600/img_0142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XndTpoCizh8/UqqX8WRYgCI/AAAAAAAAAbA/flSXxR322Ww/s400/img_0142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After the wedding we went to my old university town, Rostock, where we stopped at Marco's place, an old friend of mine from uni. We did some sight-seeing and went to see the Baltic Sea in Warnemuende. In the evening I met up with some more friends from uni to catch up on old times. <br /><br />On the next day we went to my parents' place in Feldberg. It is a gorgeous area surrounded by lakes and lots of green. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RXIGDikSQsQ/UqqYZZ5PX5I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/KyA7RdAreto/s1600/img_0156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RXIGDikSQsQ/UqqYZZ5PX5I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/KyA7RdAreto/s400/img_0156.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We spent most of our time lounging and kayaking. Then we went back towards Hamburg, where our plane would leave the next day. On our way, we visited Luebek, a beautiful little Hanseatic town in North Germany, where they make the best marzipan in the world. We met up with my sister and then went on to go water-skiing not too far away from Luebek. Our muscles were hurting terribly afterwards. We are, after all, sad city dwellers ...<br /><br />The next morning we had breakfast with Trulli and she saw us off to catch the plane.Jan Klaas Kollhofhttps://plus.google.com/109735406427919889068noreply@blogger.com0Feldberger Seenlandschaft, Germany53.33 13.43333000000006953.1782645 13.110606500000069 53.4817355 13.756053500000069